Lunar Descent and Landing Technique Development through Real-Time Earth Based Flight Dynamics Operations

Paper number

IAC-07-A3.I.A.05

Author

Mr. David Barnhart, University of Southern California, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Tim Barrett, University of Southern California, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Omair Rahman, University of Southern California, United States

Coauthor

Ms. Cassandra Raskin, University of Southern California, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Michael Rudolph, University of Southern California, United States

Year

2007

Abstract

The resurgence in lunar exploration is fueling innovative evaluation and development of new technologies for lower cost Return to the Moon missions.  Paralleling this desire to return is the need to maximize the probability of success for what will be costly development cycles to descend and land safely. Thus considerations of low cost risk reduction methodologies are very much a part of the next wave of lunar exploration initiatives, here on earth.  USC is addressing this through an innovative earth based dynamics testbed called “LEAPFROG”, or Lunar Entry and Approach Platform For Research On Ground.  
LEAPFROG was started as a multi-semester design-to-flight student hands-on training activity through the Astronautics and Space Technology Division and Information Science Instiute at the University of Southern California.  It is now an ongoing testbed that will incrementally advance, test and demonstrate various lunar descent and landing techniques over a variety of conditions and flight regimes through a step-wise generational approach with new components, flight times and payload carrying capacities.
LEAPFROG is developed as a robust lunar lander prototype testbed that can fly multiple times over the course of a single day in free flight to simulate lunar descent and landing sequences.  The vehicle has active onboard guidance, navigation and attitude control, and the “hover” propulsion is supplied by an aircraft jet turbine engine.  The concept was inspired by the LLRV that was used to train the Apollo astronauts at Dryden Research Center, and the hover flight tests at the National Hover Test Facility at Edwards AFB for KKV vehicle testing.  Both the LLRV and KKV hover flight testing exemplified that by working in an aerodynamic environment the first flight risk for space missions is significantly reduced and first time integration activities for complex spacecraft is enhanced.  Flight dynamics information realized provides a verification of the actual hardware and components before they are ever launched on a mission, and can provide critical insight into both subtle operational issues and larger issues associated with off-nominal conditions, again which cannot be realized until the vehicle is flown in space.
LEAPFROGs flight platform is intended to be modular to conform to today’s international lunar landing missions to test early prototypes of key landing subsystems through a similar profile, and in similar dust and lighting conditions that will be experienced on the moon, on a very low cost flight platform.  This paper will present flight test results and discuss various aspects of modification to the environment and flight trajectory to simulate various lunar landing scenarios. 

Abstract document

IAC-07-A3.I.A.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-A3.I.A.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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